This Christmas the Prodigal Bad Boy of White Horse Creek returns!Burke was the popular jock with the pretty girl, but behind closed doors he endured what no child should. He fled from the nightmare that had become his life seven years ago and built a new life in Florida. A call from his baby sister catches him off guard but not more than the news that she’s getting married on Christmas Eve. Burke … Christmas Eve. Burke vowed never return to White Horse Creek, but he wants to walk his sister down the aisle.
His return isn’t welcomed by all. Least of all Lisa whom he’d left broken hearted years before. But before he can slay any demons he’s got a wedding to plan, one the town of White Horse Creek will never forget. To help him his sister assigns her best friend, Scarlet.
Scarlet had a crush on Burke back then, but this time it isn’t just a crush… and it’s not high school anymore… Burke doesn’t want to fall in love, least of all with his sister’s maid of honor and best friend, but sometimes love doesn’t give you a choice.
Can Burke find redemption this Christmas or may his stocking hold a little love as well?
Find out now in the seventh installment of the Colorado Crazy Series and catch up with old favorites. Christmas in Colorado is a small town romance guaranteed to tease your senses and make you dream of cowboys again.
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I received a complimentary copy of this book and I also purchased a copy.
I loved this addition to the series. White Horse Creek is a place that I would love to live in. Unfortunately that wasn’t true for Burke. He fled town in the middle of the night when he was 24. He broke his girl-friend’s heart and was never heard from again. Fortunately his sister, Alice, is getting married to Tom, a deputy, who may have used his connections to find phone numbers for her to try. The wedding date is Christmas Eve and Alice wants her brother to walk her down the aisle. Burke meets a gorgeous lady outside of White Horse Creek trying to rescue a puppy. The puppy falls for Burke immediately and not his would-be rescuer, Scarlet. Burke doesn’t recognize Scarlet, his sister’s best friend, and neither does Scarlet.
The road to Burke and Scarlet’s HEA really kept me glued to my e-reader. I really couldn’t wait to see how it would all turn out (but unfortunately for me that also means the end to the book!!) The plot of the story is an enchanting one. It flowed beautifully. I really loved the story being told in a dual POV format. Burke’s reason for leaving really was more understandable with seeing his thoughts. I loved prior characters making appearances here and being told of some of the further development of prior couple of the earlier books.
There was a scene that may be a turn off for some that want a complete sweet, clean romance BUT it was written in such a matter that really nothing was told. On that note though, I can only recommend this story to anyone over the age of 18. This story can be read as a stand-alone, even with the prior characters. I would recommend starting at the beginning of the series though as each story has a wonderful couple.
A wonderful Christmas story. I really enjoyed the book. It was hard to put down. It was a lot of fun reading your Christmas story.
A well written perfectly paced story pulling you in from the start. The story of Burke and why he left town without talking to anyone and the struggles he deals with. His sister Alice wants him to come back for her wedding and this shows family is very important. As this is book seven in the series it is a standalone read as they all are, but it is easy to follow along with.
Book seven in the Colorado Crazy series a well written story with a very good storyline , the story flowed smoothly from page to page. Burke Birkowitz left White Horse Creek six years ago he is classed as a Black Sheep, but when his sister phones he is going back there for her.He meets Alice his sister’s best friend Scarlet Miller but they will have alot to go through. I enjoyed reading this story. I received an Arc and I am voluntarily reviewing.
Facing his past.
Burke was abused and left town as soon as he could, leaving behind his girlfriend, Lisa. He finally returns for his sisters wedding.
It’s time to face his past and maybe open the door to Scarlet, his sisters bf and maid of honor.
Awesome book awesome characters Highly recommended!!!!!!!
I received an ARC of this book from the author, Milan Watson, via Bookfunnel and this is my voluntary and honest review. This is a great book about Scarlet and Burke and their love story. Burke came home to White Horse Creek for his sister’s wedding. Scarlet was the wedding planner helping Alice, and she had a crush on Burke in high school but no one knew. Old feelings and new feelings come alive as soon as she realizes Burke is back in town. They have to work together since Burke is paying for the wedding. There are moments of funny and moments of sadness which adds to the story. I enjoyed it and recommend it. This is another book in the Colorado Crazy series but they are all standalones.
This is the seventh book in the Colorado Crazy Collection and touches on the sensitive and sad topic of parental abuse. Christmas is overshadowed by sadness and bad memories. Burke was not liked by everyone as some resented his abrupt departure years ago as they didn’t know the real reason he left. His sister’s wedding forces him to return to White Horse Creek and face the demons and bad memories he left behind. The characters are strong and well developed and the storyline is compelling. A good addition to the series. The chemistry and sparks between Burke and Scarlet are explosive. Twists and surprises galore. I read an advance reader copy and voluntarily chose to write a review.
First, I want to say this was not a bad book. I’ve yet to read a ‘bad’ book from this author. I have read and truly enjoyed ALL of the ‘Colorado’ books in this series. And that may be the biggest problem for me. I already had formed and developed perceptions of the characters. I have grown to love them and all their trials and tribulations. So, I already had a picture of who and what Burke was. I looked so forward to his redemption AFTER showing real remorse. For me, that didn’t happen here. Burke left at age 24. He was an adult but didn’t handle things in any form of an adult manner when he left. No way it should take seven years to see how his choices would affect those he left behind. I wanted Burke to seek redemption and not think a simple ‘I’m Sorry’ was good enough.
(The below thoughts addresses things in the storyline, so be aware of this before continuing to read)
So, here’s my conversation with Burke:
… Puppy love, Burke ???? Really????? Burke, a 24 year old man doesn’t have puppy love! You either loved Lisa or you didn’t. So quit making excuses and quit lying to your self. You didn’t love her. Because if you did, you wouldn’t have waited seven years to explain. And had Alice not found you, I doubt you ever would have explained. So, this has nothing to do with puppy love. A phone call, a letter, a text, an email…something on your part other than abandoning Lisa.
… But Burke got one thing right…. he didn’t matter to her anymore. Sam saw to that.
… Wait a minute Burke. After what you said to Lisa when you left, how could you NOT expect her to feel ‘not good enough’?
… Burke, quit lying to yourself. You were a 24 year old man and made a choice. The situation could have been handled in many ways, the way you handled it was a choice… your choice. If you felt like you had to run, then why not tell Lisa the truth? Why not give her the choice to go or not to go with you? You were adults… not children. It’s obvious that Lisa was not that important to you. Your choice proved that you were a heartless prick (Burke’s words, not mine) Choosing to run was one thing. Choosing to say those harmful, despicable words were another. Then, choosing to do nothing for more than seven years but stay away while letting her wallow in the pain you chose to cause, that was pretty low.
Lisa…. No, you wouldn’t have ended up having an affair…. you’re not that type of woman. Quit putting yourself down. Burke’s choices were his, you were collateral damage.
Scarlet … Unlike other characters in this series, I had a hard time forming a ‘relationship’ with Scarlet. First impressions are everything and I found her too judgmental and self-righteous. And Scarlet, if Burke called what he and Lisa shared, ’Puppy Love’, after spending years together in that ‘Puppy Love’, then do you really think a couple weeks together is real love?
Ma … It’s hard to understand a mother sitting back and watch her child get physically, mentally and emotionally abused. True, she had no education or real job experience, but many single mothers find a way. She could have been a waitress where she got nightly tips for ‘instant’ money until she found something else. You don’t stand by and watch your child get beaten.
Alice … Sweet sister who needed her brother. Couldn’t believe she knew nothing about all the beatings and other forms of abuse. Drunken fights are not quiet. Drunks tend to gather false courage and are loud. So, I was glad when she ‘fessed up’ to knowing.
I was provided an advanced copy of this book. The above review is my own opinion. I have read all the books in this series and base my 3/12 star review on this book when comparing it to the others in this series.
This is a fun, Christmas story about the notorious bad boy returning home for his sister’s wedding after he disappeared seven years ago without saying goodbye to anyone. Looks can be deceiving as the reader learns about Burke and why he felt he had to leave.
I really liked returning to White Horse Creek for Alice’s wedding to Tom and so much more. This is a great romance in a series I have really enjoyed reading. Milan Watson has woven such wonderful characters so full of depth and heart you have to love them too. I hope this is not the last book in this series. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.
I always wondered about the man who left Lisa so abruptly and without any explanations. Turns out he really had reason to leave and is in fact a man with deep secrets and much hurt. Burke is a well rounded character and I liked him very much. I do approve of the fact that money did not change him for the worst or made him pompous, but that he stayed humble. His first two meetings with Scarlet has a humourous. I lik it that White Horse Creek has characters of all walks of life. This book in the series has many thought provoking themes and is worth a read.
I have loved Milan Watson’s “Crazy in Colorado” series. Each time I finished one book, I couldn’t wait to read the next one. I had no idea how Watson was going to make Burke Burkowitz a likable character. She did such a good job at painting him as the town bad boy, awful friend, and terrible boyfirend, that I had no idea how she would be able to turn his “unlikableness” in his likability. BUT….. she did, and did it beautifully. As it turns out, Burke was one of my favorite characters.! I guess my problem with this story was that it seemed rushed. The characters in this were seen more on just a surface level. I wish Watson would have taken a little more time to go a little deeper with the hero and heroine. They had one, slightly deep conversation, that’s it, and they were head over heals after that. In the other books in the series, Watson allowed her chaacters to develop more. Burke said four times that he and his former girlfriend, the one he wanted to marry, were too young to have anything other than puppy love; and yet, Scarlet is the same age as Burke was when he wanted to marry his girlfriend of 7 years. I liked Christmas in Colorado, but I couldn’t help but be a little disappointd at how rushed it seemed.
Another great read to the Colorado series by Milan Watson. She once again brings strong characters and weaves an intriguing story with Burke and Scarlet meeting when he returns to his home town for his sister’s wedding. The author does a great job pulling you in with his secret past and the tension it brings and keeps you glued to the pages. It’s well written,moves fluidly and I enjoyed reading.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.
I love all the stories set in White Horse Creek, this is no exception. Both Scarlet and Burke a well developed characters, and we get to catch up with all the other residents. Burke has a lot to overcome before believing he can return to White Horse Creek.
I received a free copy of this book and this is my voluntary, honest review.
The prodigal son returns; can he lay the past to rest and start anew?
I enjoyed this addition to Milan Watson’s romances set in White Horse Creek, Colorado even though it’s not my favorite in the series. It did not have as much of a Christmas feel as I would have expected in light of the title. Yes, there’s snow and cold and the occasional mention of a holiday decoration, but the story is more focused on preparations for a wedding than the upcoming holiday.
A Christmas wedding arranged at the last minute for Burke’s younger sister brings him and his sister’s BFF Scarlet together and sparks fly! I loved their initial meeting and Burke’s backstory. The little mascot he acquired added a bit of cozy humor. I felt that Scarlet was a bit of a mystery; the story does not give many clues about her life other than her work in the interim since Burke abruptly left town seven years earlier. I would have appreciated more about her backstory.
Ultimately this story hinges on Burke and whether he is ready and willing to face the demons of his past, make amends, and open himself up to the possibilities of a new try at life and love in his hometown. I liked Burke’s complexity and the dual perspective used to put the reader in the mind of the two main characters.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
This is a great Christmas story with great characters. I really enjoyed reading this book.
I received a review copy of this book and I am voluntarily giving an honest review
Fantastic story! Characters that will steal your heart. A storyline that keeps you on the edge of your seat and glued to your kindle! For me it was a love- hate deal as the characters face their demons. You will feel their emotions and struggles. A definite must read.
Going Back is Not Always Bad 4.5*.
Burke returns to his hometown at the request of his sister who has tracked him down after 7 years with no contact. He has no intention of staying any longer than his sister’s wedding but the family situation has changed, the town has changed and his sister’s best friend is all grown up. Will he change his mind about returning to Florida?
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I love the quote at the end of the book. The prodigal son, Burke, has returned to White Horse Creek where he has to face his demons. He has gotten used to hide behind a mask but being among friends and family is slowly melting him. Scarlett is a first young lady who had had a teenage crush on Burke. This is truly a story of redemption. Sometimes the secrets we hide when we think we are protecting others are nothing but poison. Burke has to learn to let go of the past and open his heart to all the goodness and love that is being offered to him. This series continues to be a wonderful piece of work and this story will be a great Christmas gift for someone you love.